The Audi Progressive Semiconductor Program (PSCP)

Electronics – and hence semiconductor technology – are becoming increasingly more important to innovations at Audi. There are already between 6,000 and 8,000 processors working in the brand’s models today, and the trend is toward further growth. Semiconductors drive progress in all areas of electronic development – from electric mobility and piloted driving to Audi connect and infotainment.

Innovation cycles in the automotive industry differ significantly from the pace in the semiconductor field. While the time period between two car generations is generally seven years, the production cycle in the semiconductor industry is just 15 to 18 months. The concept of the modular infotainment platform (MIB) makes it possible to update the hardware at short time intervals. It lets Audi react quickly and flexibly to the latest developments in consumer electronics and optimally exploit the potentials of new generations of chips.

Audi initiated the Progressive SemiConductor Program (PSCP) in 2010. The goal of the interdisciplinary semiconductor strategy is to make the latest technologies available for Audi models early on to satisfy the changing expectations of customers in terms of performance, reliability, safety and operating convenience. Audi sets the highest standards for semiconductors installed in the automobile, especially in terms of their robustness, long-term quality and functionality over a broad temperature range.

Audi is able to quickly introduce new technologies into the automobile thanks to its close cooperation with leading international high-tech companies like Nvidia, Qualcomm, Analog Devices, NXP, ST Microelectronics, Renesas and Samsung Semiconductor.

In the PSCP program, the system component supplier is a key partner. Audi engineers with their many years of competence in semiconductors also interact with semiconductor manufacturers. This intensive dialog leads to high efficiency and effectiveness – enabling innovations in short time cycles that are approaching the high pace in the consumer electronics industry.

In the area of software, Audi is driving the development of its own solutions with great intensity. In 2009, the brand founded e.solutions GmbH, a company that is jointly owned by Audi Electronics Venture GmbH and Elektrobit Automotive GmbH.

Equipment, data and prices specified in this document refer to the model range offered in Germany. Subject to change without notice.

Further information about the official fuel consumption figures and official, specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars can be found in the “Guide to fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and electricity consumption of new cars,” which is available free of charge from all sales outlets and from DAT (Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH), Hellmuth-Hirth-Strasse 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen, Germany (http://www.dat.de).